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Flora Teckie, Bahá’í Perspective
Every child has the potential to be good, to do well with his or her intellectual and moral education, and to develop spiritual qualities in a loving and caring atmosphere and through proper guidance and discipline.
Our love for children, the manner in which we treat them, the quality of the attention we show them, and in general the spirit of adult behaviour towards them are all very important in shaping their future, and for the eventual transformation of our societies.
“Every child is potentially light of the world and at the same time its darkness” say the Bahá’í Writings, and that “… the aim of an educator is to so train human souls that their angelic aspect may overcome their animal side”.
The Bahá’í Writings further state that “Children are even as a branch that is fresh and green; they will grow up in whatever way you train them. Take the utmost care to give them high ideals and goals, so that once they come of age, they will cast their beams like brilliant candles on the world, and will not be defiled by lusts and passions … but instead will set their hearts on achieving everlasting honour and acquiring all the excellences of humankind.”
The art of teaching children, to a great extent, consists in knowing how to guide them so that their behaviour contributes to a joyful yet disciplined atmosphere at home and at school.
The need for a balanced education
A balanced education – combining spiritual guidance together with intellectual education – is essential for our children to develop to their full potential and for them to be equipped to contribute socially and spiritually to the advancement of our communities.
We need to infuse in our children the love of God, and guide them spiritually, to help instilling in them good behaviour.
The Bahá’í Writings state: “… from the very beginning, the children must receive divine education and must continually be reminded to remember their God. Let the love of God pervade their inmost being, commingled with their mother’s milk”.
Regarding the moral and spiritual education in schools, the Bahá’í Writings state that “Schools must first train the children in the principles of religion, … but this in such a measure that it may not injure the children by resulting in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry”.
Education for good character and the acquisition of praiseworthy qualities such as compassion, love, trustworthiness and justice towards all, in addition to secular education, will help in building a brighter and peaceful future for our children.
Our home environments have an important role in the upbringing of our children.
It is important for a child to grow up in a loving family and in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding.
A caring and supportive environment will help in the full and harmonious development of the child’s personality.
The conditions and the atmosphere we create in our homes, must be conducive to both material and spiritual welfare and advancement of our children.
Moral and spiritual education eliminates need for drastic discipline
Educating our children spiritually eliminates the need for drastic discipline that uses frequent scolding and harsh punishment.
It infuses in children the love of God and guides them spiritually to instil in them good behaviour. We should reward good behaviour in our children and not only punish them for bad behaviour.
Encouragement plays an important role in assisting the children to realise their full potential.
The following quotation from the Bahá’í Writings emphasises the importance of both encouragement and discipline: “Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary.
It is not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child’s character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal abuse.”
Furthermore, moral guidance has always played, and continues to play, an important role in facilitating a spirit of cooperation and harmony as well as of service to others. However, such a spirit of cooperation and service must be towards people of all backgrounds. Children must be taught about equality, and the oneness of humanity, and the need to consider the entire human race as members of one human family.
The type of education we provide for our children should make it possible for them to function effectively in an integrated world society.
It should be the kind of education which will enable them to live in harmony and peace.
Such education, guidance, and discipline will enable our children to become instruments for building united families and communities, and contribute towards building a peaceful world.
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